NatWest Group (NYSE:NWG) Hits New 12-Month High - Still a Buy?

NatWest Group plc (NYSE:NWG - Get Free Report)'s share price reached a new 52-week high during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $11.37 and last traded at $11.39, with a volume of 774709 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $10.84.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upgraded NatWest Group from a "hold" rating to a "moderate buy" rating in a report on Monday, November 4th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, NatWest Group presently has a consensus rating of "Buy".

NatWest Group Trading Up 1.8 %

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16, a current ratio of 1.06 and a quick ratio of 1.06. The company has a market cap of $46.01 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.40, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.85 and a beta of 1.30. The business's fifty day moving average price is $10.48 and its 200 day moving average price is $9.83.

NatWest Group (NYSE:NWG - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Friday, February 14th. The company reported $0.37 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.26 by $0.11. The company had revenue of $4.90 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.75 billion. Research analysts anticipate that NatWest Group plc will post 1.35 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

NatWest Group Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 28th. Investors of record on Friday, March 14th will be issued a $0.3899 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 14th. This is a boost from NatWest Group's previous semi-annual dividend of $0.36. This represents a yield of 3.8%. NatWest Group's dividend payout ratio is presently 22.79%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Creative Planning increased its position in shares of NatWest Group by 21.0% during the third quarter. Creative Planning now owns 144,276 shares of the company's stock worth $1,350,000 after buying an additional 25,075 shares during the period. Bleakley Financial Group LLC grew its holdings in NatWest Group by 29.0% during the 3rd quarter. Bleakley Financial Group LLC now owns 24,057 shares of the company's stock worth $225,000 after acquiring an additional 5,403 shares during the period. Raymond James & Associates raised its position in shares of NatWest Group by 6.7% in the 3rd quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 2,564,252 shares of the company's stock worth $24,001,000 after acquiring an additional 162,068 shares in the last quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC lifted its stake in shares of NatWest Group by 70.3% in the 3rd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 21,619 shares of the company's stock valued at $202,000 after purchasing an additional 8,923 shares during the period. Finally, Signaturefd LLC lifted its stake in shares of NatWest Group by 10.2% in the 3rd quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 57,864 shares of the company's stock valued at $542,000 after purchasing an additional 5,370 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 1.27% of the company's stock.

About NatWest Group

NatWest Group plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides banking and financial products and services to personal, commercial, corporate, and institutional customers in the United Kingdom and internationally. It operates through Retail Banking, Private Banking, and Commercial & Institutional segments.